Pangi valley cut off
CHANDIGARH, Jan 23 — The Pangi valley in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, was cut off today from the rest of the country following heavy snowfall, even as higher reaches in the state had fresh snowfall. Mid and lower hills and plains in the region had intermittent rain since last night.

1000 to be recruited in IRB
DHARAMSALA, Jan 23 — More than 1000 youth will be recruited in the India Reserve Battalion, permission for which had been granted by the Union Home Ministry. This was disclosed by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, while addressing a public meeting at village Dahkulhara, in the Ganggath constituency, today.

Amendment to Land Revenue Act sought
SHIMLA, Jan 23 — Gram panchayat pradhans have demanded a comprehensive amendment in the Land Revenue Act to regularise encroachments on government land.

Shopkeeper attacked
SOLAN, Jan 23 — Three unidentified persons attacked and inflicted multiple stab wounds on a shopkeeper in the main bazaar of Rajgarh, 50 km from here, at about 8 p.m. yesterday.

Excise inspectors seek Class II status
SOLAN, Jan 23 — The Himachal Pradesh Excise and Taxation Inspectors Association has demanded that their cadre should be granted Class II status on the pattern of naib tehsildars and forest rangers.

• JEs for amending recruitment rules
• CITU protest on Feb 2

Pangi valley cut off

CHANDIGARH, Jan 23 (UNI) — The Pangi valley in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, was cut off today from the rest of the country following heavy snowfall, even as higher reaches in the state had fresh snowfall. Mid and lower hills and plains in the region had intermittent rain since last night.

High altitude areas in the tribal belt of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi valley in Himachal Pradesh had fresh snowfall during the past 24 hours, intensifying the cold wave in the entire tribal belt groaning under sub-zero temperature.

The commanding Dhauladhar ranges, overlooking the picturesque Kangra valley have been having snowfall since last night. The 13,050 feet high Rohtang Pass, gateway to the Lahaul valley, has also been having heavy snowfall since last evening.

The key tourist resort of Manali registered 9 cm snowfall till this morning, intensifying the cold wave in the Kulu valley.

Bharmaur, in Chamba district also reported moderate to heavy snowfall during the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh Government today resumed helicopter service between Bhuntar and Keylong (Stingiri) in a bid to clear stranded passengers in the tribal belt.

Several parts in Himachal Pradesh, including Sundernagar, Pandoh, Dharamsala, Kangra, Sujanpur Tira, Nadaun and Hamirpur, reported rain during the past 24 hours.

1000 to be recruited in IRB
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 23 — More than 1000 youth will be recruited in the India Reserve Battalion, permission for which had been granted by the Union Home Ministry.

This was disclosed by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, while addressing a public meeting at village Dahkulhara, in the Ganggath constituency, today. He also inaugurated the Rs 65 lakh bridge constructed over the Chhonch khud.

The Chief Minister, said that the Centre had already agreed to provide financial assistance for setting up of the India Reserve Battalion. He stated that he met the Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani and the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, in this connection, at Delhi yesterday.

The Centre had also agreed to raise the quota of recruitment from Himachal in the defence forces, which would help in providing employment to a large number of educated unemployed youth.

There was 80,000 mw of identified hydel potential in the country, out of which 21,000 mw was in Himachal. He regretted that so far only 4,000 mw of this hydel power potential had been tapped. The tapping of the hydel potential in the state would not only bring prosperity to the state but also provide employment to a large number of youth.

Mr Dhumal reiterated his government's commitment to the uniform and balanced development of the state. He alleged that a handful of frustrated politicians were spreading canards against his government. The government would make all efforts to promote horticulture in the lower areas of the state. The support prices for the mango and citrus varieties of fruits was the first step in this direction.

A sum of Rs 1.5 crore had been sanctioned by NABARD for the construction of Kandrori Pakka Tiala road in the Ganggath constituency. The Chief Minister also announced that the High School, Dahkulhara, would be upgraded to the senior secondary level from the next academic session.

He sanctioned a sum of Rs 2.5 lakh for the construction of a stadium. He also sanctioned a sum of Rs 10 lakh for the Kathgarh temple's development.

The Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidyasagar, the Revenue Minister, Mr Rajan Sushant and Mr Des Raj, MLA, were present on the occasion.

Work speeded up on Parbati project
From Balkrishan Prashar

KULU: Following the agreement in the execution of the Parbati project in Himachal Pradesh on November 20 last year in New Delhi, work on the project would be speeded up by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.

The NHPC, which has already completed two hydroelectric projects i.e. Chamera Project (Stage I) of 540 MW and Baira-Siul Project (198 MW) in Chamba district, acted fast and within a few days of signing the agreement sent Chief Engineer S .M. Narang, to project site with his skeleton office staff.

Pre-construction investigation works have already been taken up. Additional staff has also been posted to expedite revision of the draft project report and obtain environment and forest clearance for the project.

The Parbati project comprises three stages culminating in a total generation of 2051 MW (750 MW from Stage I, 800 MW from Stage II and 501 MW from Stage III) and is situated in the Kulu valley with headquarters at Bhunter, 10 km from Kulu. Though the Parbati falls in two districts of Kulu and Mandi with Stage I and the Dam site of Stage II falling in Kulu while the powerhouse of Stages II and III fall in Mandi. Kiratpur in Punjab would be the nearest railway station.

Stage I envisages a 180 metre-high dam with an estimated live storage of 11,000 ha.metre. I would also have an underground powerhouse near Nakthan village' upstream of Pulga Dam.

Stage II envisages a 91-metre-high concrete gravity dam along with a 21.25 km long headrace tunnel, and a surface powerhouse with four turbines of 200 MW each to generate 800 MW of power. Energy generation from this project will be 3176 million units in a hazard-less year.

Stage III development utilises the tailrace releases from the Stage II powerhouse as well as inflows from the Sainj river by construction of diversion dam near Sainj village and surface powerhouse at Larji to generate 501 MW of power. Stage II to be executed first shall have the longest headrace tunnel in the country over 31 km - tunnelling in this project shall be over 40 kms.

According to Mr S.K. Dodeja, General Manager of the Chamera Project, under whose supervision the Parbati project is being built, the execution of the second stage will be taken up first and detailed investigation will be done simultaneously for Stages I and III immediately. On completion of investigation work, work on Stage III would also be taken up along with execution of Stage II. Stage I would be taken up for execution later.

The notional cost of Stage II at the November 1998 price level worked out to Rs 2318 crore including interest during construction. All the three projects together are expected to cost around Rs 10,000 crore, for which the NHPC has started negotiations with World Bank for funding and financing, besides exploring other means of financing the project such as joint ventures with international companies.

The execution of the Parbati project would usher in an era of substantial development and progress in the Kulu and Mandi districts. The project on completion would become the biggest hydroelectric project in the country and would provide power to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana , Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh.

Amendment to Land Revenue Act sought
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 23 — Gram panchayat pradhans have demanded a comprehensive amendment in the Land Revenue Act to regularise encroachments on government land.

This suggestion was made at a revenue conference in Rampur today which was presided by Mr K.C. Chauhan, member of the Land Laws Review Committee. President of the Block Development Committee, Narkanda, and pradhans of gram panchayats participated.

The committee has been set up by the state government to suggest amendments in the Land Revenue Act which has become outdated.

The participants meeting suggested that the law on partition should be simplified so as to enable the revenue officers to decide the cases speedily. Shortcomings in implementation of the H.P. Common Lands Vesting and Utilisation Act were also pointed out.

Mr Chauhan told TNS that it was suggested that the Revenue Act should be amended to clearly demarcate the respective jurisdiction of civil and revenue courts to save the farmers from protracted litigation. Sections 171 and 46 of the H.P. Land Revenue Act should be amended in this respect.

It was brought to the notice of the committee that there were a large number of complaints of farmers regarding errors in land measurement which required early rectification.

It was also suggested that the land settlement be put under the overall control of the District Collector to ensure proper coordination among the field staff members and accountability.

Shopkeeper attacked
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Jan 23 — Three unidentified persons attacked and inflicted multiple stab wounds on a shopkeeper in the main bazaar of Rajgarh, 50 km from here, at about 8 p.m. yesterday.

The assailants pounced upon the shopkeeper while he was on his way to home after closing his shop. However, the men fled following the shopkeeper's resistance towards them. He grappled with the assailants — all of whom were armed with knives. He received multiple cuts in the hands, neck and ribs.

Ex-Rural Development Minister, Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, who gave information about the incident here today, said the incident, which had occurred soon after the recent "Kale Kachhe Wale" incident at Paonta Sahib, had created panic in the area. He criticised the government for its failure to maintain law and order.

JEs for amending recruitment rules
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, Jan 23 — The Himachal Pradesh Irrigation-cum-Public Health (IPH) Department Junior Engineers Association has urged the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to amend recruitment and promotion rules for junior and assistant engineers.

Mr Subash Tyagi, state general secretary of the association in a statement here yesterday, demanded a ban on direct recruitment of assistant engineers and said vacant posts should be filled by promoting diploma and degree holder junior engineers.

He also demanded the removal of the condition of eight years' service for diploma holders to get their promotions.

Excise inspectors seek Class II status
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Jan 23 — The Himachal Pradesh Excise and Taxation Inspectors Association has demanded that their cadre should be granted Class II status on the pattern of naib tehsildars and forest rangers.

Association president Som Dutt Sharma told reporters here yesterday that excise and taxation inspectors in the state were responsible for enforcing eight different Acts. These were the Excise Act, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the HP Passenger and Goods Tax Act, the Medicinal and Toiletries Preparation Act, the Indian Forests Act, the Entertainment Duty Act, the Cinematograph Shows Act the General Sales Tax Act.

In addition to this, they also had to act as officers in charge at road barriers, breweries and distilleries and as the inspecting authorities under the Food and Supplies Department.

Mr Sharma said the inspectors played a key role in collecting revenue.

Mr Sharma also pleaded for the formulation of a rationalised seniority list and provision of better working conditions, particularly at road barriers where, in view of the difficult conditions, the excise inspectors had to work round-the-clock.

CITU protest on Feb 2
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 23 — The state unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) will stage statewide protests on February 2 to oppose the move of the Centre to amend various labour laws at the behest of multinational companies.

The proposed amendments, the CITU alleged, would pave the way for the exploitation of workers. The duty hours were sought to be increased from 8 hours to 12 hours, the eligibility for regularisation was to be increased from 240 days to 720 days and the Minimum Wages Act and the Bonus Act were to be scrapped.

The union also opposed the setting up of an electricity regulatory authority which, it feared, would lead to the disbanding of the state power board in a phased manner.

CITU also demanded the linking of wages with the price index and demanded that the minimum daily wage be increased from Rs 51 to Rs 100.